Unit 30 Lesson 1—Philip and the Ethiopian

Background for Parents:

Over the last few months, we have been studying the beginnings of the early . The rapid growth of the church led to some disagreements and problems. In the lessons this month, we will see how the leaders of the church reminded everyone that is their ultimate leader, and that they share the common mission He gave them, to take the to the entire world.

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Introduction Activity: Follow the Leader Select one kid to be the leader. He/She will walk around the room making noises and gestures. The other kids will follow behind him/her in a single file line mimicking all his/her actions. Every minute or so, rotate to a new leader. Say• Follow the leader is fun, and usually pretty easy to play. We will learn today about a time Philip followed the ’s lead. Do you think what he had to do was easy? We’ll learn more about it soon.

Big Picture Question and Review Last month, we got to see the beginnings of the early church, and we asked ourselves what the church is. And we learned that the church isn’t a building—it’s the people—believers who gather to worship and serve God together. As we get into these new stories, we’re going to ask a “why” question about the church:

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Over the next several weeks, we’re going to learn how keeping their eyes on their mission was the best thing the believers in the early church could do—and how it’s the best thing we can do as well. 4

The early church definitely had some struggles. Some members were selfish, like Ananias and Sapphira.

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Other members, like Stephen, were arrested, mistreated, hurt, or even killed because of their faith.

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But through it all, God was using the struggles to strengthen and grow the church in various ways. All of this was done by the Holy Spirit’s power.

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Today, we will learn about a time the Holy Spirit led one man to a place where he could lead another man to understand the gospel and believe in Jesus.

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As you listen to the Bible story, listen for these things: • How did Philip know where to go, to share Jesus? • Where was the Ethiopian man returning home from, and what was he reading as he rode in his chariot? • What did the Ethiopian man want to stop and do after Philip explained the gospel to him?

Bible Lesson Video (click on the picture below to view)

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Bible Story: () (Either play the story video, or display the story picture from page 8, and read this story aloud). An of the Lord told Philip, a follower of Jesus, to go to a desert road between and Gaza. So Philip went.

On the road was a man from Ethiopia. He was an important official to the queen of Ethiopia. The man had come to worship in Jerusalem, and now he was on his way home. He sat in his chariot, reading aloud the words of the prophet Isaiah.

The Holy Spirit told Philip to go to the chariot, so Philip ran up to it. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked the man.

The official replied, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He invited Philip into his chariot, and Philip sat with him. The official was reading these words from Isaiah:

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He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so He does not open His mouth. He was treated unfairly, and His life is taken away.

The official asked, “Was Isaiah talking about himself or someone else?” Isaiah was talking about the Messiah, so Philip began to tell the man the good news about Jesus.

As they traveled down the road, they came to some water. “What would keep me from being baptized?” the official asked.

Then the official told the chariot to stop. He and Philip went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water,

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Christ Connection: The Ethiopian official knew what the Old Testament prophets said, but he did not understand that they spoke about Jesus. The Holy Spirit led Philip to help the official understand the good news about Jesus: Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead, just like the Old Testament prophets said.

Follow-up Discussion:

As Philip left Jerusalem, he knew his mission. He couldn’t stop telling others about Jesus and showing His love. My favorite part of the story is Philip’s example of obedience. When God told Philip to go somewhere or do something, he did it. The Bible doesn’t tell us that God laid out all the details of what would happen next. Find Acts 8:26 in your Bible. What did God tell Philip? [Allow kids to read the verse and respond.]

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This story has a lot to teach us about immediate obedience. Philip didn’t make excuses about how far away the desert road was, or how uncomfortable he would feel running up to a stranger’s chariot to talk. Instead, he just obeyed. Jesus’ final command to His disciples was to make disciples and baptize them. The early church took that command very seriously!

As soon as the Ethiopian man believed, he asked to be baptized to show his new faith. His obedience was immediate too. When Philip was carried away by the Spirit, the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing. He was headed home, so we can know that he carried the truth of Jesus with him to Ethiopia! All along God’s plan has been to glorify His name through the church.

Key Passage: Show the verse poster. Read the verse aloud with/to kids.

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Older kid’s version:

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Younger kid’s version:

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Our key passage is a great reminder that Jesus is our ultimate leader. Having first place in everything also means having first place in our lives. Only Jesus deserves our worship and praise.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for Your amazing love for us. Thank You that You allow us to be part of Your plan to share Your love with other people. Help us to be obedient like Philip, trusting You with each next step as You reveal them to us. Amen.

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Lesson Review Key Passage Review

Before the session, write out the key passage on two sets of index cards, two or three words per card. Using tape, create a curving path along the floor with one set of cards. Display the key passage poster. Lead kids in reading aloud Colossians 1:18 together. Distribute the cards from the 2nd set of cards to the kids and challenge them to put them in order along the path.

Say• As Philip was traveling along the road, I can only imagine what he would have been thinking. Thinking about God’s Word is a great thing to do while traveling. Memorizing God’s Word allows us to take it with us everywhere we go!

Allow each kid to walk the path and read the cards aloud.

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Story Questions

Show the Bible story picture (page 8). Ask the following questions and discuss the answers together:

• Who told Philip to go to a desert road? (an angel) • Where was the man in the chariot from? (Ethiopia) • What did Philip ask the man? (Do you understand what you are reading?) • Which prophet’s writings was the Ethiopian official reading (Isaiah’s, Acts 8:30) • Who were the words Isaiah wrote about? (Jesus) • How did the Ethiopian react to the gospel? (he believed it and was baptized, Acts 8:36-39)

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Extended discussions for older kids: • How did Philip know what to say to the official? Lead kids to recall that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would help us and teach us what to say. (Option: Choose a volunteer to read Mark 13:11.) • How can we have the Holy Spirit today? Help kids recognize that when we follow Jesus, God promises to send each of us the Holy Spirit to live within us. This promise is for everyone! (Option: Choose a volunteer to read :38-39.)

Activity: Make scrolls Say: The early church did not have in the form of books like we do today. They used scrolls to read God’s Word. The Ethiopian official had a scroll copy of the writings of Isaiah. We’re going to make our own scrolls today to help us remember this story.

Give each kid a copy of the two pages (26-27) at the end of this lesson 19

(containing the key passage, the big picture question, and Isaiah 53:7-8). Have them cut each page into two strips (along the dotted line), then tape each of those strips together, to form one long strip of “scroll” paper. Then show them how to tape the two ends of the paper to two straws, markers, or pencils, to form the ends of the scroll. Help them roll up the pages like a scroll, and tie it shut (in a bow instead of a knot, to make it easier to re-open) with a ribbon or yarn (or use a rubber band). Then let them unroll the scroll to read from it, starting with the print on the left end, and rolling up the left end as they read each successive section of the scroll. They may decorate the additional blank strip on page 27

Activity pages Older kids (3rd-5th grade) journal and activity sheets: Pages 21-22 Younger kids (1st-2nd grade) coloring and activity sheet: Pages 23-24 Preschool (age 4 to kindergarten) activity sheet: Page 25

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The church exists to Why does the glorify God by worshipping church exist? Him, showing His love, and telling others about Jesus.

Colossians 1:18 the firstborn from He is the head of the dead, that in the body, thechurch. everything He He is the beginning, , might be preeminent.

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Isaiah 53:7-8 He was led like a sheep so He does not open to the slaughter, His mouth. He was treated and as a lamb is silent unfairly, and His life is before its shearer, taken away.

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